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“Double Agent: A Cold War Spy Thriller with Alien Intrigue”

The final chapter of Zygon Century: Infiltration takes a sharp turn into spy thriller territory, drawing heavily from classic Cold War espionage stories. The opening scene feels like something out of a Bond film, as MI5 agent Caldwell completes a prior mission only to be briefed on a new one, this time to thwart the Zygon threat in Cornwall.

This tonal shift is a refreshing change of pace from the gothic and atmospheric tales of The Unknowing Mirror and The Miracle of Pendour Cove. Instead of eerie mysteries, we get action-packed sequences, tense standoffs, and covert operations—all staples of the spy genre.

The Doctor Meets the Spy

Michael Troughton’s performance as the Second Doctor is a standout, capturing the whimsy, wit, and quiet moral authority of Patrick Troughton’s portrayal. This is one of the few audios set in the intriguing “Season 6B” era, giving the Doctor a solo mission for the Time Lords. His dynamic with Caldwell—a trigger-happy, no-nonsense agent—is one of the story's highlights.

Caldwell is a far cry from the Doctor’s usual companions. He’s more pragmatic and ruthless, embodying the gritty realism of a Cold War operative. This contrast sets up compelling dramatic tension as the Doctor seeks to save the Zygons while Caldwell aims to destroy them.

Harriet, the local who serves as a stand-in companion, adds warmth and curiosity to the story. Meanwhile, the professor studying the Zygons provides exposition, though his role feels somewhat perfunctory.

Zygon Threats and Human Morality

The Zygons’ infiltration capabilities take centre stage, with their shape-shifting abilities explored in chilling detail. Harriet’s reveal as a Zygon all along is predictable but still tragic, as it adds nuance to the Zygon race by showing the potential for humanity within their ranks.

The infant Skarasen make for intriguing, if underutilised, creatures—described as both cute and dangerous. Caldwell’s gung-ho approach to dealing with them contrasts sharply with the Doctor’s protective instincts, further emphasising their moral divide.

The Zygon leader delivers the usual menacing rhetoric about human inferiority and the grandeur of their invasion plans. Unfortunately, the climax doesn’t live up to the build-up. The supposed grand invasion plan feels small-scale, and the stakes aren’t heightened enough to make the resolution satisfying.

An Action-Packed Climax with Loose Ends

The final act sees the protagonists captured by the Zygons in a sequence that lacks tension or urgency. The twist about Harriet being a Zygon is handled well but doesn’t lead to any significant revelations or stakes. The story concludes with hints of a larger Zygon conspiracy, setting up future box sets but leaving this chapter feeling incomplete.

The Verdict: Thrills with a Side of Disappointment

Double Agent is a fun departure into Cold War espionage, with strong performances from Michael Troughton and a gritty dynamic between the Doctor and Caldwell. While it delivers plenty of action and thrills, the story falls short in its climax, with an underwhelming payoff to the overarching Zygon invasion plot.

📝80/100

Easily the most 'Doctor Who' like story and therefore the most basic one in the series, this episode thrives on its twists and turns, with almost constant reveals and surprises needed to keep the plot interesting. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, and while I still don't think we needed the Doctor in this story, Troughton is as great as always and his presence definitely made the story more exciting, especially since this was set in between series 6 and 7 for him. Overall this was nothing revolutionary, but I appreciated having more action as well as a more Zygon focused plot, so I enjoyed this one quite a bit